Renewing the Chapel

The chapel at HMC dates back to the College’s arrival in Oxford and is a key part of our history and our identity. Designated in 1893 for those who could not accept the dogma of any particular denomination, it is a reminder of HMC’s Unitarian and Dissenting roots, and the role the College has traditionally played in ministerial training.

However, over the years the chapel’s role within HMC has grown beyond religious services to encompass concerts, poetry readings, lectures and pre-graduation ceremony briefings. For many, it is simply a tranquil space to escape the bustle of College life. It is also a popular wedding venue, and is one of the few Oxford college chapels that is able to hold and legally register same-sex marriages.

The aim of the renovation project was to protect and promote the chapel’s many important heritage elements while installing the infrastructure and facilities necessary to meet the ever-growing demands of a modern College. Following more than two years of fundraising, design and planning, the renovation of the chapel was completed in February 2025.

The work included:

• More versatile and energy-efficient lighting to highlight the Chapel’s many important aesthetic features and improve the experience for all Chapel users
• A new AV system with live streaming equipment to share events taking place in the Chapel with audiences around the world
• Redecorating the interior to ensure the stained-glass windows, organ pipes and furnishings are shown to best advantage
• Replacing the floor coverings with a new carpet made from recycled plastic bottles, enhancing both the visual aesthetic and the sound quality of the room

The project was made possible thanks to the kind support of our HMC community. In particular, the incredibly generous support of Regent Emerita Laurel Blossom, Emeritus Fellow Professor Susan Llewelyn and alumnus Dr Aron D’Souza.

The work was managed by our Clerk of Works, Mark Longford, in consultation with conservation architects and a group of staff and Fellows convened to oversee the project. We are delighted with the outcome and held a number of celebrations throughout Hilary term 2025 to mark its reopening: an opening event for staff, a public service featuring a reflection by artist, potter, writer and Visiting Fellow for the academic year, Edmund de Waal, and a separate ceremony for benefactors.  

If you haven’t already, we hope you will come and see the improvements for yourself. And, if you can’t make it to the chapel in person, we are now trialling the new streaming system with a view to transporting you back to services, lectures and concerts at HMC from the comfort of your own home – an option only made possible by the generosity of our supporters.